CHILD CARE

Free Preschool Resources in Lane County

Both Preschool Promise and Head Start offer free, high quality preschool to Lane County families, but with different program offerings and eligibility requirements.

Preschool Promise

Free, high-quality, part-day and full-day preschool, parenting education, and support for families with children ages prenatal-5 years, including pregnant individuals.

Cost & Length of Day

Locations

Head Start:

  • Cottage Grove

  • Eugene

  • Florence

  • Junction City

Head Start

Free, high-quality, full-time preschool for families with children ages 3 & 4.

Both programs are FREE, and have some classrooms with wrap around child care that can be covered by Employment Related Day Care (ERDC), and/or sometimes by Parent Pay.

Head Start: offers full-day and part-day options.

Age & Address Eligibility

Head Start: Child must be prenatal-5 years, and family must live in Lane County.

Income Eligibility

Head Start: Gives priority to families currently experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, families at or below 130% of the federal poverty level (FPL), households receiving SSI, TANF, SNAP or ERDC benefits. Families who are over our prioritized income range are placed on a space available basis.

Preschool Promise: full-day preschool.

Preschool Promise: Child must be 3 or 4 at the beginning of the program year, and family must live in Oregon.

Preschool Promise: Family must live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Income maximum does not apply to children in foster care.

Both programs have locations around Lane County in public schools and childcare centers. Preschool Promise also features some providers with high-quality home-based settings.

  • Lowell

  • Oakridge

  • Springfield

  • Veneta

Preschool Promise:

  • Cottage Grove

  • Junction City

  • Creswell

  • Springfield

  • Eugene

  • and more!